Movie Summary of The Young Victoria by Michael The Moviegoer.
THE YOUNG VICTORIA = ***
“A Crowning Achievement”
Emily Blunt is victorious playing the young queen of England who would go on to reign longer than any other, and have an era named after her, as well as a London tube line! As the movie shows us, she wasn’t very popular at the start of her reign, but became a much loved monarch, being the first to reside in Buckingham Palace.
Emily Blunt, the actress, is well on her way to becoming movie royalty. She burst on the scene several years ago playing Meryl Streep’s assistant in “The Devil Wears Prada” and was so good earlier this year as Amy Adams’ sister in “Sunshine Cleaning”. Now, in playing Queen Victoria, Blunt shows that she has what it takes to some day bring home an Oscar.
We are introduced to the young Victoria in her late teenage years, just before she becomes queen of England. The rest of the movie resides firmly in her romantic interests and the behind-the-scenes matchmaking designed to create political alliances with other European countries. Rupert Friend and Paul Bettany play the two suitors with the most potential.
Julian Fellowes, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “Gosford Park”, keeps the rich, elegant, Victorian-era dialogue flowing from the lips of a top cast of British thespians. But, while Blunt’s performance is very good, this film’s real chance at the Oscars will be in the Best Costumes category. That’s a no-brainer!
“The Young Victoria” doesn’t feel as weighty as most historical epics of the past. Probably because it doesn’t cover much ground. The running time is a brisk 105 minutes. When the film ended I was caught by surprise. It felt like there might have been at least another half-hour to go. A good indicator of how much I was enjoying what little was being offered.
DVD Double Feature: 1998’s “Elizabeth” stars Cate Blanchett as a Protestant who takes the throne of England and creates controversy when she refuses to obey protocol by not abandoning her lover. Director Shekhar Kapur’s style adds a nice contemporary edge to this film, keeping it more cinematic than Masterpiece Theatre.
Michael The Moviegoer
